Tough going for S'wak BN in four Bidayuh seats

By Joe Fernandez - Free Malaysia Today

ANALYSIS If the Sarawak state election were held today, it would be extremely tough going for the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) in four of the six Bidayuh majority seats, namely Kedup, Bengoh, Tasik Biru and Opar. This is the growing consensus on both sides of the political divide in the state. The tough verdict also follows the announcement by the opposition alliance, Pakatan Rakyat, that it will “take on the BN one-to-one in the Bidayuh seats”, if not all seats.

The two other Bidayuh seats, seen as safe BN seats at the moment, are Tarat and Tebedu which are both held by Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).

Matters are not made any easier, in the four problem seats, by the incumbents expressing their wish to be fielded once again while others have indicated that they may also join the fray and, if so, may split the BN votes.

Tebedu state assemblyman, Micheal Manyin Anak Jamong, 65, opined in the local media recently that “the BN is likely to retain all six incumbents in Bidayuh seats”.

Manyin himself appears to have support in Tebedu but his party, PBB, feels that he will be too old for the next state election which must be held by the middle of next year.

Nevertheless, Dr Christopher Kiyui, who runs a private clinic in Bau, is tipped to replace him. Manyin is unlikely to go quietly as he holds the important post of state minister of infrastructure development and communications.

Christopher hails from Kampung Taie, near Tebedu, which has produced many prominent politicians like former state assembly speaker Robert Jacob Ridu; John David Nyauh, political secretary to the chief minister; and George Oscar, Manyin’s confidential secretary.

No spring chicken

In Kedup, which is held by PBB’s five-term assemblyman Federick Bayon Manggie, 67, at least three university-educated candidates have emerged as potential candidates, according to political analysts. These include Kedup PBB deputy chairman Martin Ben, lawyer Bernard Phillip and Dr Eric Marcel Munjan, a medical doctor. “PBB may want to replace Federick with Eric,” said a party insider. “However, this will depend very much on whether Federick is willing to make way for a new face.”

Eric, at 57, is no spring chicken. He was previously with the government and stood in the 1996 general election as an independent candidate for parliament. He came close to creating an upset.

Both Martin and Bernard, in their late 40s, stand an even chance if the preference is for a younger candidate. They have never been tried and tested in any election and are generally an unknown quantity among the voters. It will be a tough act for them filling Federick’s shoes and making up for his perceived shortcomings. Voters may not be willing to return the seat yet again to PBB after returning Federick for five terms, admit party insiders in Kedup.

Kedup is also a favourite with PKR with several “well-qualified” candidates eyeing the seat.

In Bengoh, the grassroots appear to be unhappy with incumbent Dr Belek Jerip Anak Susil, 53, from the troubled Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) which lost eight seats at the last state election in 2006. There are issues involving the lack of business opportunities, basic infrastructure, schools and other facilities. Jerik, it is said, seldom visits the constituency and instead is busy with his private clinic in Padawan town.

SUPP sources in Padawan are unanimous that Jerip must make way for a new face or the party risks losing the seat as well. This idea may not sit that well with Jerip who, at 53, still sees himself as relatively young in politics. His supporters may not take too kindly to him being eased out prematurely.

In Tasik Biru, incumbent Peter Nansian Anak Ngusie, 61, from the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), has been accused of not respecting his party president William Mawon Ikom. He leads a five-member team of anti-Mawon state assemblymen and MPs within the SPDP. This has led to a considerable cooling of relations between both men, especially after he initiated talks with the Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) on a possible merger without any mandate.

One sore point with Nansian is the fact that the Bidayuh have been split up among three parties with five of the six seats going to non-Dayak parties.

Fallen out of favour

Analysts don’t see any possibility of Nansian being fielded again in Tasik Biru. Likewise, the three state assemblymen aligned with him in SPDP may get the boot as well. Already, it’s being whispered in the political grapevine that businessman Henry Harry Jinep will replace Nansian. The speculation began after Mawon indicated to the party faithful in Tasik Biru that “Nansian was ungrateful” after he had recommended a state assistant minister’s post for him. Nansian is assistant state minister for the environment.

In Opar, incumbent Ranum Anak Mina, 59, is still popular. The main complaint against him is that he’s with the wrong party, that is, SUPP which has fallen out of favour with the Bidayuh as well and not just the Chinese. Interestingly, many of the BN members in Opar are registered with the PBB.

In Tarat, there is as yet no potential candidate from PKR who can unseat incumbent Roland Sagah Wee Inn, 55, from PBB. Major (retired) Peter Runin from the Sarawak National Party (SNAP), a Pakatan member this time, may be tempted to stand in Tarat again. In that case, Roland would be foolish to ignore the possibility of an upset given the prevailing anti-government sentiment among the Bidayuh.

Bidayuh leaders in the past used to urge the community to vote for the ruling party, pointing out that they would be left out from the fruits of development by voting for the opposition. Such appeals would no longer work with a community which has grown cynical over the years with various promises made by the BN when the election comes.

Manyin himself has stressed the importance of the Bidayuh community “expressing its thanks to the BN by voting for it”. This is the kind of language that doesn’t appeal to an increasingly educated community which is producing many university graduates to rival the Melanau and Orang Ulu among the other Dayaks. The one other remaining Dayak community, the Iban, is the largest among them but suffers from low literacy levels.